Clearly defining your business
is important for accurate representation of your firm when submitting
contract proposals. In addition, such identification can serve
as a marketing strategy. Government agencies are required to establish
and (strive to) meet a variety of small business procurement goals.
For example, an agency may be looking for a woman-owned business
to fulfill specific contract requirements and help it achieve a
government-wide, 5% goal of contracting with women-owned small businesses.
Are you a small business?
SBA defines what a small business is. Small business size standards
are based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Determine if you can be classified
as a small business.
Are you a woman-owned business?
A woman-owned business is defined as a business that is owned
and controlled 51% or more by a woman or women. Currently, a woman-owned
certification process is not required for federal contracts. When
submitting a proposal, simply self-certify by checking the appropriate
box. Learn more about this.
Are you a veteran-owned business?
A veteran-owned business is defined as a business that is owned
51% by a veteran(s). There is no veteran-owned certification process
to complete, simply self-certify.
Are you a service-disabled veteran-owned business?
A service-disabled business is defined as a business that is owned
51% by one or more service-disabled veterans. The Veterans Administration
confirms disability. Learn more about
this.
Are you a small disadvantaged business? (SDB)
A small disadvantaged business is defined as a firm that is
51% or more owned, controlled, and operated by a person(s) who is
socially and economically disadvantaged. African Americans, Hispanic
Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian Americans,
and Native Americans are presumed to qualify. Other individuals
can qualify if they show by a " preponderance
of the evidence" that they are disadvantaged. Learn more about this.
Are you a HUBZone business?
The Small Business Administration's HUBZone Program is designed
to promote economic development and employment growth in distressed
areas by providing access to more federal contracting opportunities.
HUBZone is defined as a "Historically Underutilized Business
Zone". Certified small business firms will have the opportunity
to negotiate contracts and to participate in restricted competition
limited to HUBZone firms. To determine if your business is located
in a HUBZone, or to apply online, click here .
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
The SIC will be replaced by the six-digit North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) code. The new NAICS system was developed
to reorganize business categories on a production/process-oriented
basis. The purpose behind the creation of the NAICS classification
system is specifically for governmental regulations and census reports.
To determine your NAICS code, click Learn
more about this .
Federal Supply Classification (FSC) - identifies products
The federal government uses numeric
federal supply class (FSC) codes to describe the supplies, products
and commodities it purchases.
Learn what
your FSC code is. |